Integral telescopic sight for firearms

ABSTRACT

A unified firearm and optical sight integrates the mounting of the optical elements directly into a one-piece frame, receiver, or barrel of the firearm. This solves some technical limitations caused by keeping the firearm and the telescopic sight as separate products. Merging the optics into the frame of the firearm reduces the distance between the optical elements and the barrel, which reduces parallax error. Reducing the number of mechanical connections between the optical elements and the barrel improves the rigidity of the connection, which reduces point-of-aim errors from bumps and shocks. Integrating the telescopic sight into the firearm makes for a smaller and smoother package, which makes it possible for the firearm to be carried in a concealed way. This invention applies to all types of firearms, including handguns, pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, NFA firearms, and AOW firearms.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part application claiming priority from the nonprovisional application having Ser. No. 14/189,234 files on Feb. 25, 2014 that claims priority from the provisional application having Ser. No. 61/804,223 and filed on Mar. 22, 2013

BACKGROUND

When aiming a firearm at a target it is helpful to have a clear, bright, and magnified view of the target and a certain point of aim. It has been common to attach after-market telescopic sights to firearms in order solve this problem. However, the performance of telescopic sights is limited by parallax error caused by the distance between the centerline of the bore of the firearm barrel and the centerline of the telescopic sight. In addition, the mechanical connections between the optical elements of the telescopic sight and the firearm barrel reduce the rigidity of the combined assembly, which increases the point of aim errors caused by the bumps and shocks that are typical in the handling of a firearm over time. Finally, after-market telescopic sights tend to be large and bulky, which makes for a bulky and difficult to handle complete assembly of the firearm and telescopic sight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention integrates sighting optics elements and the mounting structures of the optics directly into an one-piece unitary frame of a firearm. This unitary design solves technical limitations that are otherwise caused in the prior art by keeping the firearm and the telescopic sight as separate products. For example, merging the optics into the frame, receiver, or barrel of the firearm reduce the distance between the center line of the optics and the center line of the barrel, which consequently reduces parallax error. In addition, reducing the number of mechanical connections between the optics and the barrel improves the rigidity of their inter-connection, which reduces point-of-aim errors caused by the bumps and shocks that are otherwise typical in the handling of a firearm over time. Finally, integrating the telescopic sight into the frame of the gun makes for a smaller and smoother package, which makes it possible that the firearm be carried in a concealed way. This invention applies to all types of firearms, including handguns, pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, NFA firearms, and AOW firearms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows in side view a pistol according to the invention with an integrated telescopic sight.

FIG. 2 shows in side view modified forms of an integrated telescopic sight on a pistol according to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows in side view a rifle according to the invention with an integrated telescopic sight.

FIG. 4 is a side section view of a handgun according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND BEST MODE OF IMPLEMENTATION

FIG. 1 shows a pistol according to the invention with an integrated telescopic sight. The firearm pistol frame 105 is partially cut away in the figure for clarity. The cutaway section reveals the optical system 106 of the pistol that is integrated within the frame 105. Preferably, the optical system 106 is located as spatially close to the firearm barrel centerline as possible. While in this example configuration, the optical system 106 is integrated within the frame 105, in other alternative constructions, the optical system may be integrated into other rigid structural elements of the firearm, such as a receiver or the barrel; the critical requirement being that the integrated and supporting structure be continuously rigid or unitary with the barrel support during normal operation and use. The term “integrated” herein in intended to convey that same aspect: that the optical system 106 including all the physical optical elements are continuously and rigidly connected to the firearm, and that the optical element supporting structures are continuous and unitary with the firearm structure. Herein, the term “optical system” means a system including at least one solid optical element with a refractive index greater than one and expressly does not include sighting systems, such as “iron sights” that do not include refractive (lens) elements. The optical system includes the supporting structures that are contiguous with the refractive elements.

In contrast, typical prior art removable optical sighting systems are noncontiguous with its respective firearm because a physical distinction or parting line exists between the structure of the optical system and the firearm frame.

The optical system in FIG. 1 includes at least a first optical element 101 of the telescopic sight. The bore for the first optical element 101 is in the frame of the pistol. Although it is not required, the bore for the first optical element has a locating lip, 120, to set the position of the optic. The optical system includes a reticle 102 and second optical element 103 and third optical element 104. The muzzle 107 of the pistol barrel is shown for orientation. Each optical element may be an optical lens.

FIG. 2 shows a modified configuration of the invention including a modified optical system 112. A modified first optical element 108 has the locating lip placed in an alternative position. A modified second optical element 109 and modified reticle 110 and modified third optical element 111 are placed in a different order from the configuration of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a rifle with an integrated telescopic sight including a barrel 113. Included in the barrel of the rifle is the mounting 114 of the first optical element. The optical system includes a reticle 115 supported in the receiver 119 of the rifle. The mounting for the second optical element mounting 116 and third optical element mounting 117 is located in the receiver 119. The rifle includes a stock 118.

FIG. 4 illustrates a further configuration of the inventive device in cross-section. The key feature of this invention is that the frame 105 of the firearm is unitary with the structure retaining the telescopic sight 200. That is, the frame 105 is a single unitary structure supporting both the barrel and all the elements of the sight 200 without internal boundaries, parting lines or physical interfaces.

The sight or optical system includes the following elements illustrated in FIG. 4. The actual three-dimension form of the optical system elements will be clear to one skilled in the art; the individual elements have conventional shape and form. An objective optic element 202 admits light from the target to the optical system. An objective optic mount 204 screws directly into the frame 105, with screw threads 205. The objective optic 202 is held in the objective optic mount 204 with an epoxy bond 203. The objective optic mount 204 has an airtight seal to the frame 105 using two o-rings 206. First and second erector optics 208, 211 are separated by the erector spacer 210, and held into an erector mount 212 using an erector lock ring 207. The erector mount 212 also holds the reticle 214. The erector mount 212 is held to the frame 105 using a pair of screws (not illustrated) and an o-ring 213 which allows the erector assembly to pivot so that the point of aim can be adjusted using the windage screws 209. An eyepiece optic 216 allows light to exit from the sighting system as it travels to the user's eye. The eyepiece optic 216 is bonded into the eyepiece mount, 218 using an epoxy bond 217. The eyepiece mount 218 threads directly into the frame 105, with screw threads 215. The longitudinal position of the eyepiece assembly can be adjusted in the frame 105 by screwing it in or out of the frame 105 to focus it for the individual user's eye. The eyepiece mount 218 has an airtight seal to the frame 105 using two o-rings 219.

The physical extent of the elements of the optical system is substantially the entire length of the frame 105, the forward-most element being adjacent the forward facing barrel mouth 305 at the forward facing end 304 of the frame 105. The optical system is located within an optical system cavity 301 that is formed within, internal to, the frame 105. The cavity 301 is elongated and generally circular in cross-section, although having various different diameters, and is oriented with its longitudinal axis 306 parallel to that of the barrel 302. The optical system cavity 301 extends from the forward end 304 to the rear 307 of the frame 105. The barrel 302 is likewise retained in a barrel cavity 303 formed in the frame 105. Herein, the word “frame” refers to the supporting structure that retains the operable “firing” components as well as the optical elements discussed respecting the invention. The term “frame” also refers more generally, with respect to the novel aspects of the invention, to such supporting structure together with the conventional functional elements of the respective handgun.

The optical cavity 301 internal profile may vary depending on the particulars of the optical system design. However, to accomplish the optical performance required for a handgun, the optical elements must be relatively spaced apart, preferably in most designs as mutually distant as possible. To maintain the precise relative positioning, an integral frame is needed.

Both the optical system cavity 301 and barrel cavity 303 are preferably formed by conventional milling processes or other similar material-removing methods. Both are formed within the common unitary frame 105. This is critical to maintain the relative spatial dimensions of the elements of the optical system, both internally and with respect to the firing elements of the handgun, particularly the barrel longitudinal centerline.

The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. 

1. A handgun comprising: a unitary handgun frame; the frame having an internal elongated cavity; and an optical sight comprising multiple refractive elements, the optical sight retained within the cavity.
 2. A handgun, according to claim 1, and wherein: a handgun frame has a forward end and an rear end; and the cavity extends from the forward end to the rear end. 